Water feed for steam boilers



Ew, M1923.

Filed June 2 W. A. WHITMORE WATER FEED EOE STEAM BoILER-s Sheets-Sheet. 1

Wl /VESSES A TTUR/VEYS mec. 11,1923. l 1,177,172

` W. A. WHlTMORE WATER FEED FORy STEAM BOILYERS Filed June 28. 1921 A sheets-sheetz INVENTOR l/M A. WH/ TMOHE' Patented Der. l1, 1923.

NETE@ PATENT FFHQE.

WILLIAM LBERT WTJL'ORE, OF NELSONVILLE, OHIO.

WATER FEED "FR STEAv BOILERS.

Application tiled-June 28, 1921. Serial 11o. 481,019.

T o @ZZ u' Ito/m t may concern Be it known that l, WILLIAM A. WHIT- Monn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nelsonville, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Water Feed for Steam Boilers, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a feed means for steam boilers and more particularly is intended for embodiment in what is known as a return system for returning the water of condensation from heating systems where the water flows through the trap or is suiiiciently cooled to be acted upon by a vacuum, or for embodiment in a feed for boilers furnishing steam for power.

The general object of the invention is to provide feed means of the indicated type improved in various particulars and characterized by distinctive features and results as will best appear in connection with the description of a practical embodiment of the invention.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boiler feed embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the iio-at-controlled valve and its cylinder;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the steam controlling valve and its cylinder, together with the connection from said cylinder to the trap tank;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections respectively on the lines 4-4 and 5 5. Figure 3.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example, a supply pipe 10 from any suitable source (not shown) is provided-with a check valve 11 and leads into a receiver tank 12. From the tank 12 near the bottom leads an outlet pipe 13 having a check valve 13a to prevent iniiow to tank 12. Also, leading from the receiver tank 12 at a point above the pipe 13 and vpreferably adjacent to the center of said receiver tank is an overflow pipe. 15 having a check valve 15a and discharging to the trap tank 14. Water is fed from the tank 14 to the boiler (not shown) by a feed pipe 16 which may as shown connect with said trap tank through the adjacent end ofthe pipe 13 to which said feed pipe 16 is connected by a T-fitting 17.

.Rising from the trap tank 14 is a stand pipe 18 connecting said tank with a steam cylinder 19 having a piston valve 20 therein. The cylinder 19 has a steam inlet 21 with which a steam pipe 22 connects from the boiler. The stand pipe 18 has a steam outlet 23 from which a pipe 24 leads to the receiver tank 12 at the top.

Communication is established between the stand pipe 18 and the steam cylinder 19 through a port 25 in said stand pipe and adgaccnt to said port is an outlet 26 leading to an exhaust pipe 27 having a check valve 28, communication between the port 25 and outlet 26 being established through an exhaust passage 20a in the valve 20.v Said valve 20 also has a slot 20b which receives a stud bolt 20C tapped into the side of the cylinder 19 to prevent turning of valve 2O about its axis.

Steam exhaust ports 29, 292t lead from the respective ends of cylinder 19 and connect by exhaust pipes 30, 30a with steam inlets 31, 31a in a valve cylinder 32, there being diametrically opposite exhaust ports 33, 33a, in said cylinder and leading to exhaust pipes 34, 34a. Communication between the inlets 31, 31a and the exhausts 33, 33a is controlled by an auxiliary reciprocating valve 35 in cylinder 32, said valve being operated by a float 36 in the trap tank 14, the stem of the float having connection by a shift lever 37 with said valve 35. The piston valve 2O affords a chamber at the center continuously supplied with steam from the steam inlet 21 and from said chamber leads longitudinally through the ends of the valve minute steam ports 38, 38a for furnishing pressure to the respective ends to move the piston.

1n practice water is caused to` iow through the supply pipe 10 into the receiver tank 12. Water from the tank 12 Hows through pipe 15 to trap tank 14, which in filling raises the float 36 and moves the auxiliary valve 35 so as to cause said valves to place the inlet 31 and exhaust pipe 30 in communication with the exhaust 33. The exhausting of steam through the exhaust pipe 30 permits the piston valve 20 to move to the left and permits steam to flow through the port 25 and stand pipe 18 to trap tank 14 placing said tank under the boiler pressure, the steam at the -same time flowing through pipe 24 to the receiver tank 12. At this time the exhaust port 26 is Vout of communication wit-h 29 and pipe 30 being also closed, At the same withexhaust outlet 26 through the exhausty time the valve is on lap .at the exhaust ports Sla, cutting off exhaust through the latter. Water now flows to the boilersince the pressure is equalized in the receiver tank 12 and trap tank 14. Since the receiver tank 12 is elevated above the trap tank 14, said tank 12 empties rst and afterwards the trap tank 14 empties. The emptying of the trap tank 14 lowers the float 36 causing the valve 35 to be moved to the right and registering the exhaust inlet 31L with the exhaust outlet 33a, thereby permitting steam from the right-hand end of the cylinder 19 to exhaust through port 29a and pipe 30a to the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 34a, the consequent movement of the piston valve 20 closing the ports 25 and 29, communication between the exhaust ports 31, 33 being closed at this time by the piston valve 35 under the lowering of l the float 36. Thus, the system is again ready for reilling during which the air will halve free passage from the tank 12 by pipe 24 and ort 25 which is in communication passage 20a of valve 20.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the cylinder 32 is double-walled to provide asteam chambery 39 which is in free communication 4at ,one end 40 with t-he interior of the trap tank 14., the opposite end of the valve 35-being subject to the pressure in said chamber 39 as at 41, whereby to equalize the pressure at both ends of said valve Cylinder heads 19tL may have plunger 42 extending through stuffing boxes 43 so that the said valve 2O in an emergency may be Y manuallyvoperated from the exterior of the cylinder' 19". p

The receiver tank 12 and trap tank 14 have gage glasses 44, 45 respectively. Obviously, in practicev the pipe 24 may com- '.muni'cate with a plurality of receiver tanks 12' in a large plant.

The check valve 16a in feed pipe 16 holds the boiler pressure; ,thel check valve 13 prevents the trap tank 14 from filling through the lower pipel 13, and the check valve 15aprevents live steam fromy enteringthe receiver tank 12 when the top of pipe 15 is submerged lthereby preventing water hammer. The check valvell prevents live steam from passing to the condensation coilsl (not shown) when the tanks are discharging.' k'lhe check valve 28 provides an outlet for steam and air and preventsA air wfrom the atmosphere `returning to the system when a vacuum. is' formed in the latter.

The apparatus, it will be observed, is arranged to withstand high pressure and as the pressure increases it makesmore positive the action ofthe apparatus, because of the auxiliary valve ,35 'beingbalanced with pressure at both ends ywhereby said valve will operate with ease at any pressure, and also the higher the steam pressure on the piston valve 20, the more positive the action of said valve. The object is Vto use the steam for power in operating the piston valve 2O which whenfthe `left end of the cylinder 19 admits live steam intol the tanks and equalizes the pressure in the tanks with the boiler pressure, thereby causing the water in the tanks to flow to the boiler by gravity when the left end ofthe piston valve 20 cuts ofi' the boiler pressure from the tanks and permits the back pressure from lthe condensing coilsftoenter the tanks and force the -air out through the port 25, passage 20a, and exhaust outlet 26. A practical advantage of the parts is that the vcontrolling unit comprising the trap tank 14, stand pipe18, cylinder 19 with their connections andfappurtenances, as described, constitutes .a controlling unit complete in itself andi unaffected `by the additionof more receivertanksin the system. It will be observed also that there are no externalV operative partsrequiring glands and stuffing boxes which are liable to leakage, the arrangementA serving furthermore to give a maximum vacuum. The control by the positively operatedevalves 2O and 35 makes the action of 'theapparatus positive. f

I would state in conclusiony thatv while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention,`lV Ado not `limit myself strictly to the'mechanical details herein illustrated, since'manifestly the same can be considerably varied without vdeparture from the spirit of the invention receiving tank, valve means controlling the exhaust from said cylinder, and means subject tothe-rise and fallof water in said trap tank to actuate said valve means.

`2. A water feed apparatus for steam boilers including a trap tank, a receiving tank connected with said trap tank and Vhaving a water supply connection, a steam cylinder, means connecting the cylinder with the v trap tank, connection between said means and' said receiving tank, a piston valve in said cylinder, exhaust pipes communicating with the cylinder at the ends, a valve having an equal pressure at both ends controlling 'said exhaust pipes, and means subject tothe rise and fall: of water in the trap tank to actuate said last-mentioned valve.

3. An apparatus of the class described, including a receiver tank having a Water supply, a trap tank connected with the receiver tank to receive water from the latter, a boiler feed pipe communicating with said trap tank, a. steam cylinder, means establishing connection between said cylinder and trap tank, said means being in communication also with the receiver tank, a piston valve in said cylinder controlling the outlet of steam from the steam cylinder to the tanks, exhaust pipes connected with said cylinder at its ends, and means subject to the rise and fall of water in the trap tank to alternately open and close said exhaust pipes for causing operation of the piston valve.

4. An apparatus of the class described including a trap tank, means to direct water to the trap tank, a stand pipe rising from said tank, a steam cylinder on said stand pipe, a piston valve in said cylinder, said cylinder and stand pipe having exhaust ports and the valve having an exhaust passage adapted to establish and disestablish communication between said exhaust Orts, exhaust pipes connected with the cylin er at the ends, a receiver tank, a pipe connecting the stand pipe with the receiver tank, and means subject to the rise and fall of water in the trap tank to alternately open and close said exhaust pipes.

5. A water feed apparatus for steam boilers comprising a receiver tank connected with a source of supply, a trap tank connected to said receiver tank and arranged in a level below the receiver tank, a steam cylinder connected with the steam boiler and with both of said tanks, a valve in said cylinder controlling the communication with said tanks, valve means controlling the exhaust Jfrom said cylinder and a float hinged in said trap tank for operating said valve means.

6. A Water feed apparatus for steam boilers including a receiver tank, a trap-tank connected therewith, a steam cylinder having exhausts at each end connected with both of said tanks, a piston valve in the cylinder adapted to establish communication between the cylinder and tanks, exhaust pipes connected with said exhausts and means subjected to the rise and fall of water in the trap tank for controlling said exhaust pipes to alternately open and close the same for the operation of said valve.`

7. A11 apparatus of the class described,

comprisinga receiver tank having connection with a Water supply, a trap tank connected to said receiver tank and disposed in a plane below the same, a, steam cylinder connected to both of said tanks and to a steam boiler, exhaust pipes connected to said cylinder at the ends, a piston valve operating said cylinder and controlling the communication with said tanks, a reciprocating valve having an equal amount of pressure at both ends controlling said exhaust pipes and a float hinged in said trap tank to actuate said last-mentioned valve with the rise and fall of water therein to cause the steam in said cylinder at one side of said valve to be exhausted so as to permit said valve to be moved under pressure of the steam at the other end.

8. An apparatus of the class described including a receiver tank, a trap tank connected with said receiver tank, means to direct water from the receiver tank to the trap tank, a stand pipe rising from said trap tank, a steam cylinder disposed on said stand pipe, a piston valve in said cylinder, said cylinder having exhaust ports, said stand pipe communicating at one side with the receiver tank, a valve reciprocating in said cylinder, pipes extending from said exhaust ports to a valve casing secured to the trap tank, a controlling valve sliding in said casing, means actuated by the rise and fall of the water in said tra tank for moving said controlling valve, said controlling valve being adapted to exhaust alternately the steam from the ends of said cylinder so as to cut in or off steam to said stand pipe and tanks so as to put the pressure of the tanks under the pressure of the boiler for the tanks to discharge their water supply into the boiler.

9. A water feed apparatus of the class described including a receiver tank, a trap tank connected with the receiver tank and arranged in a plane below the plane of the receiver tank, a steam cylinder between said trap tank and a boiler to be fed, a valve in said steam cylinder, means connecting said receiver tank with said cylinder, and means in said trap tank for causing said valve to move in said cylinder with the riseJ and fall of the Huid Within said trap tank for allowing steam in the receiver and trap tank and thereby discharge their contents into the boiler.

WILLAM ALBERT WHITMORE. 

